textproduct: Amarillo

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1240 PM CDT Thu May 7 2026

- Thunderstorms are possible on Saturday afternoon into the evening across the eastern Panhandles and a few storms could be severe with large hail and damaging wind gusts.

- Warm and dry conditions are forecast for next week with high temperatures potentially reaching the triple digit mark along with elevated fire weather.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 1240 PM CDT Thu May 7 2026

Calm weather with warm temperatures are expected the rest of today and all day on Friday for the Panhandles. The southern High Plains will be in-between systems during this time with ridging building across the west and troughing moving east away from the region. After a cool start to the day, temperatures this afternoon should rise into the 70s with light to a light to breezy west wind. Temperatures will warm up a bit on Friday, but the north should stay in the upper 70s to perhaps low 80s as a very weak surface boundary moves south during the day. Overnight lows on both nights are mainly going to be in the 40s, with perhaps a few areas across the northwestern Panhandles potentially dropping into the upper 30s.

Muscha

LONG TERM

(Saturday through next Wednesday) Issued at 1240 PM CDT Thu May 7 2026

Northwest flow is expected to prevail over the CWA on Saturday as a ridge of high pressure continues to build across the western CONUS. At the lower levels, a southerly wind will aid in strong WAA over the region with H850 temperatures forecast to be in the mid to upper 20s Celsius by Saturday afternoon. These low level temperatures should equate to surface highs mainly in the 90s across the Panhandles. However, there is some uncertainty with the temperatures, especially across the north, as there will be multiple boundaries in play. A cold front is expected to move south over the Plains sometime on Saturday into Saturday night, but exact timing is uncertain. Another boundary that will likely set up over the Panhandles is a surface trough / weak dry line that should be in place across the east by early to mid afternoon. East of this feature, ample instability and shear may be in place for a few storms to develop and become strong to severe given decent synoptic forcing. The severe storm threat appears to end during the early evening as storms move into western OK if any do form across the eastern Panhandles.

With the cold front south of the area on Sunday, temperatures will be a bit cooler with highs returning to the 70s. Highs will quickly increase during the work week as the upper level ridge finally moves over the High Plains and temperatures may approaching the triple digit mark on Tuesday and potentially Wednesday. Dry conditions are favored at this point beyond Sunday morning. The warm temperatures and dry conditions may lead to elevated fire weather on Saturday and multiple days next work week.

Muscha

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1240 PM CDT Thu May 7 2026

VFR conditions are forecast with this TAF cycle. West wind with occasional gusts are expected this afternoon before decreasing this evening. The wind will begin out of the south this evening and then eventually turn clockwise from west to north during the later half of this TAF issuance. Mostly clear skies are expected.

Muscha

AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. OK...None.